why the beads?

these look just like the item photos, but the description does not indicate that the birds have cardstock between their legs. the color between their legs is a light yellow, so they won't look as good on paper of other colors. also, the image shows little round beads on all the shells, but i hate them. i think they're supposed to look like pearls, but none of the shells pictured actually produce pearls in real life. i think they're tacky, and wish i could order this set without them.